CARBONDALE, Ill. (SIU ATHLETICS) -- M Southern Illinois unleashed a school-record 807 yards of total offense and kept its playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 55-48 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday in the regular-season finale at Saluki Stadium.
The No. 17-ranked Salukis (5-3) won't have to wait long to learn their playoff fate. The 16-team FCS Playoffs bracket will be announced Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on ESPNU. Six schools will receive at-large bids to the playoffs, and Southern could have a leg up with its four wins against ranked teams, including today's victory over the No. 15 Lions (4-3), who were a last-minute addition to the schedule, as each school sought to bolster its resumé.
In a shoot-out for the ages, just about every stadium offensive record fell by the wayside. The teams combined for 103 points and 1,347 yards. Southern was unstoppable on the ground, averaging more than eight yards per carry, as  (159 yards) and  (145 yards) each tallied two touchdown runs. SIU's offensive line mauled the Lions to the tune of 423 rushing yards � the program's most against a Division I team since 2006.
"I would hand a ball off and sit back and watch our offensive line go to work," said Saluki quarterback . "I'd see (guard)  smack someone in the face and (tackle)  put a kid on the ground, while  goes off for 20 yards. It's kind of like poetry."
The Salukis were equally efficient in the passing game, with Labanowitz completing 20-of-24 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns, and Williams Jr. adding a passing TD of his own on a 56-yard strike to fullback .
When the dust settled, SIU had run 77 plays and averaged an astounding 10.5 yards per play.
Said Labanowitz, "I told the guys in the huddle every time, 'Look at what you're doing. I don't know what we've rushed for, I don't know what we've thrown for, but finish this game and put a cherry on top because you guys earned it.'"
Southern trailed only once in the game, 6-0, after SLU scored on its opening drive. Quarterback Cole Kelley finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, part of a monster day for the 6-foot-6 QB that included 418 passing yards, two passing TDs and three rushing touchdowns.
"We could've taken the easy way out and said, 'hey boys, we've got a 4-3 record and you guys have had some great wins,' but we called a team that was as hot as anybody and might have the best quarterback in the country," said SIU head coach . "If (Kelley) comes back next year, he's going to be First-Team All-American."
The first half was a see-saw affair. The Salukis went no-huddle and scored at will, but the Lions answered each time. Fortunately for Southern, it got the ball last, scoring on an eight-yard pass from Labanowitz to  with 10 seconds to go before halftime, giving SIU a 34-27 leg up heading into the second half.
SIU's receivers flourished. Lenoir caught seven passes for 128 yards and  added eight catches for 127 yards. Cox also gained 55 yards on three carries.
"Man coverage is not a good idea against  � it's not a good idea against ," Labanowitz observed.
Southern finally pulled away in the fourth quarter after Strong's nine-yard touchdown run made it 55-41 with 7:53 remaining. Although the Lions drew to within 55-48, SIU closed out the victory with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that featured 12-straight running plays and ate up the game's final 5:08.
"We just knew we could out-power them," Strong said. "Not even trying to be cocky, we just knew that we had size on them and could get push the whole game. That's exactly what we did."
Hill repeated his praise for SLU head coach Joe Scelfo and a Lions program that bussed eight hours to Carbondale to play a game, after SIU's last two opponents opted to end their seasons.
"I have a ton of respect for them, and I think we built some friendships that will last forever," Hill said.
Furcron, a senior leader and team captain, was especially grateful for the opportunity to play the game.
"For (athletic director)Â Â and the athletic department to get us that game against those guys," he said. "For us to just have that opportunity to play against a ranked opponent that holds some weight to the playoff committee and just be able to have that experience to get a win is huge for our program."
Southern has not been to the playoffs since 2009. Hill hopes the selection committee looks favorably at his team, which beat four ranked opponents and overcame well-documented adversity, including COVID, snowstorms and injuries.
"We didn't just play � we went out and found the best opponent that we could, and we put it all out on the line again," Hill said. "We did everything right and we played when other teams aren't playing. That's what our program's about."
